- Locksmith & Home Security Technician
- Getting a career diploma in as little as 2 months.
- Gain experience with practical exercises and interactive assignments.
- Learn how to identify, create, and duplicate keys.
- Learn to work with several types of locks including safes, valuts, and auto.
- and more...
Safe technicians work with all types of safes in a variety of aspects.
Duties of safe technicians range from traveling to and communicating with customers, as well as repairing safes and opening locks.
You need to use hand tools, lifts, and ratchet straps for transporting safes, and a trailer for towing hefty safes is a good investment.
You will also want to find training to prepare you for the expectations of the job as a safe tech.
Here are the steps to go through in order to become a safe technician in your US state.
There are also online training programs and licensing requirements you need to know about for preparing for this occupation.
Table of Contents
Steps to Become a Safe Technician
A safe technician or vault tech provides locksmith repair services, too.
They can get into cars in a jam if someone locks their keys inside, or repair a security bank vault lock if a key is broken inside.
In order to offer these services, a safe technician needs to train in this area of expertise.
A safe “cracker,” as this type of professional is also called, must be protected in a variety of ways.
This is important for their business and personal security.
Online training for safe technicians is available but limited in scope.
In addition, you will want to supplement the safe and vault training you receive with locksmith training.
This will help you provide more comprehensive safe and vault services, such as unlocking a vault or safe.
Once you have successfully completed a program, it is time to pursue certifications and licensing.
Typically, getting licensed as a safe technician in your state is the best way to start showing your professionalism.
From there, consider any certification exams you can pursue to train and specialize in various areas of safe repair and installation.
Another step involved with becoming a safe technician is working in a place where there is a higher demand for this type of work.
If you live in a city where there are more than 10,000 residents but not too many safe and lock pickers and repairers, this is a great place to establish a new business.
Finally, once you begin a business as a safe technician, maintain your licensing and certifications annually.
Update any skills and tools as needed through continuing education training and programs near you and online.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Safe Technician
The Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) has the Security Professionals Association for both safe technicians and locksmiths.
According to this association, a professional safe technician is different from a locksmith in the training requirements and job expectations.
If you want to become a safe technician, your pathway to success starts with becoming a certified professional safe technician (CPS).
This requires mastering 17 levels of safe and vault repair and maneuvering.
The next step is to achieve a certified master-safe technician (CMST) certification.
Online Training Programs
Here we have a few of the top online training programs for safe technician training.
ALOA and the SAFETECH
One way to train easily in safe technician skills is to attend the SAFETECH Convention.
This convention is held annually by the ALOA Security Professionals Association.
During the convention, there is a trade show along with more than 100 classes offered to safe technicians.
The ALOA event calendar for security professionals also includes an online ALOA Podcast for Locksmiths that is applicable for safe techs.
Safecracking 101
The Safe and Vault training by the Society of Professional Locksmiths starts with a single book.
“Safecracking 101” is a manual available online for how to become a safe technician.
A certification exam for the book provides readers with an evaluative tool.
You are able to earn a SOPL certificate in safe and vault training from the association.
In addition, there is a second resource, “Bob Murray’s Safe Book,” from US Lock.
You can read this online manual about safe servicing, and take a second certification exam through the SOPL.
Department of Defense Lock Program
The Department of Defense (DoD) Lock Program provides access to certified safe and vault training.
While this training is not online and must be completed in person, this opportunity is beneficial to those interested in military-safe tech jobs.
Online Locksmith Training
In addition, many schools offer online locksmith training that is relative to the safe and vault training for a safe technician.
Consider taking at least one online locksmithing course for your training.
Salary
The average salary for a safe technician is $46,796 annually, according to Zip Recruiter.
This salary is based on a range from $30,500 to $51,000 a year.
In Tennessee, you can expect to earn at the top of the pay range for safe techs.
Meanwhile, Georgia safe technicians make the lowest in the nation.
I’ve been considering a career change and becoming a safe technician sounds really interesting. The detailed steps here make it seem achievable. Thanks!